NBA Predictions & Preview For Tuesday, October 21st (NBA Season Opener)

We did it! We made it through another NBA offseason, and it’s game time once more. While the playoffs brought it down a bit, last season was still a profitable one for my daily NBA picks, bringing home a 4% Return on Investment. Let’s look to do the same for 2025/26. Here are your NBA predictions and preview for Tuesday, October 21st – the NBA season opener.

NBA Predictions & Preview For Monday, October 21st (NBA Season Opener)

Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Start Time – 7:30 PM EST

The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, fittingly, tip off the new season tomorrow night, raising their banner and getting their rings before taking on the visiting Houston Rockets. The new-look Houston Rockets.

The Rockets, famously, hoped to have added the final piece to their championship puzzle, picking up all-time great Kevin Durant to be their main man on offense. Unfortunately, they’ve since lost point guard Fred VanVleet to a season-ending injury. The Thunder cover the spread tomorrow night at home.

Best Bet: Oklahoma City -7.5 (-102)

Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers

Start Time – 10:00 PM EST

Our late game tomorrow is a California-themed one, with the Golden State Warriors visiting the Los Angeles Lakers. But we’ll see no LeBron James tomorrow night, as a bad back has him out at least another month. Not the start to the season the Lakers were looking for.

And I don’t expect tomorrow night to be the start they were looking for either, as the Warriors are a tough out with Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry on the court together, as they will be on Tuesday night. The road team covers.

Best Bet: Golden State -2 (-110)

2025 Overall Record: 197-167 (54%)
Profit (based on $100/bet): $1,288.93
Return on Investment: 4%